As promised here is the story of my first friends for this Camino. You may recall as I meandered along the wrong path a lass by the name of Gerda called out to alert me of my mistake and hastened to put me on the right path. She had two companions a man and a very friendly dog named Oudine after some Nordic God. They travel together from Austria.
After arriving at the first destination we discovered we were staying at the same little Hotel by the river run by the English man Peter.. Gerda invited me To join the trio for the evening meal. I agreed after suggesting she ask her husband. She quickly responded explaining he was not her husband nor her partner but her travelling companion.
So we met at 7.00 and the wine and conversation flowed. It went something like this:
Gerda is a frequent walker from Austria, married for 26 years with two adult a sons, a consultor of some sort, a skier, a lover of horses and owner and mistress of the beautiful Collie her constant companion, in France dogs are permitted to stay in the hotel room with their owners. Gerda by her own admission is a frequent talker. Her husband banker agrees and generously funds her month long summer holidays each year and encourages even longer- he is a house couch potato and is happy for the break.
Gunther is an interesting character. He is train driver by profession and a volunteer fire man as is his father and his grandfather before him. As for his mother she is also a fire person of sorts- both referred to her as a dragon lady breathing fire- a sort of metaphorical piromaniac.
They seem to work well as a team taking it in turns to see the dog is taken out when natures calls. Gunther likes his food and usually helps Gerda finish her meal.he doesn't speak any English and seems happy for Gerda to do all the talking. She learnt English in Australia as an exchange student and relates staying in some outback hotel where a patron brought his horse into the bar each day for a beer. During one conversation Gerda shared quite spontaneously their sleeping arrangements- the dog sleeps on the floor in their room and they share the bed but head to toes- he to hers and she to his but Gunther snores. Last night we had adjoining rooms- at breakfast she claims I woke her with singing at three in the morning- I assured her that the only singing at that time was the toilet.
The story will continue- they are walking to St Jean Pied de Port.
More about the journey tomorrow- Today, the third day walkin was a seven hour 30 Ks am a little weary and sore-a/shorter day tomorrow
Bye for now
Jim